If you enjoyed meeting Suzanne Jones, Charlie Jones and Francine Matheson in Counterfeit! and Deception! then you won’t want to miss what happens next.
Out of fear. Out of greed. Out of evil. Corruption springs from many roots
Teenagers fall prey to a deadly new drug craze sweeping Russia. Pharmaceuticals destined for Africa turn up on the backstreets of Moscow, St Petersburg and Vladivostok. Regulator Suzanne Jones and her sister, Charlie, fight to stop the pushers before more kids die.
But will their discoveries mean a friend goes to prison? And are they putting their loved ones in danger? With old adversaries and surprising new allies, the Jones sisters face their toughest challenge to date.
The heart-stopping third episode in the Jones Sisters series of thrillers
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Pam Keevil –
Great end to a great series.
It’s a real pleasure to be reacquainted with the Jones’ sisters and some characters from previous novels. Elizabeth Ducie’s novels always have interesting settings and using Leningrad makes for fascinating reading. The plot is as tightly woven as ever and the prose sparkles with just the right amount of description of places to create authenticity. The characters are well drawn and I particularly liked Lydia. The author’s description of a young person with Down’s Syndrome is skilfully done. I feel I need to go back and re-read the books now to reacquaint myself with the whole world of the counterfeit drug trade and to enjoy again the characters as I know I will miss them…unless there is another story to tell? I hope so.
Michael Bennoson –
Trilogy a Great Success.
Corruption is the last in the Jones Technical Partnership trilogy and emulates the first two, Counterfeit and Deception, as an enthralling page turner.
The author’s exhaustive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and Eastern Europe, in particular Russia and the Ukraine, is most impressive and contributes much to the interesting relationships and suspense throughout the book.
The next publication by this author cannot come soon enough.
Eleanor –
A riveting read.
Elizabeth Ducie’s writing just gets better and better. I enjoyed the previous two Jones sisters’ novels – Counterfeit and Deception and Corruption was even more compulsive reading. The plot is tightly-drawn with many twists and turns.
It has a large number of characters but there is no confusion. Each one is so well-drawn with a distinct personality that they are easily memorable.
Ducie’s knowledge of Russia and the pharmaceutical industry shines through adding another level of depth to the whole reading experience.
Georgia Rose –
Life has moved on for these strong characters but there’s still crime to fight!
Corruption is the third book in the Suzanne Jones series. The Prologue gets right to the heart of the issue that’s going to be dealt with in this story, and it’s a tough one. I then loved the opening to Part 1 all about the change in Francine Matheson’s life, and how that led onto becoming involved with the pharmaceutical industry in Russia.
Life has similarly moved on for the Jones sisters. Suzanne has married a vet and has gone on an extended honeymoon in South America. Charlie is expecting a baby with her partner, Annie. However when Francine gets in touch with Charlie about her concerns Charlie is only too willing to come to her assistance.
As help comes from an unexpected source friends and foes reappear in this well thought out plot that culminates in a thrilling climax. We also get to see more about Charlie’s background which was a bonus.
I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with these characters again and I’m sure readers who like well-written crime novels filled with strong characters and interesting storylines would love this series. They could be read independently of one another, but why wouldn’t you start at the beginning?
els ebraert – b for bookreview –
Very entertaining.
I have never been there but I love thrillers taking place in Russia. I love the language and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m a big James Bond fan and the villain is often from that part of the world? I don’t really like science but I love a thriller with a background in the pharmaceutical world. So, I will not surprise you that when I saw the blurb of this book, I was won over straight away.
Before I say something about the story, I havd to add that I adore the cover.
This is the third book in the series and I had no problem at all picking this one up. You can easily read it as a stand alone and of course your interest will be piqued to read the other books as well. I am sorry the hear it is the final part.
I already talked about James Bond (sorry he is a bit of my hobbyhorse) and the type of story is very alike minus the technical gadgets. Here everything is solved in the good old fashioned way and it’s nice to see heroines instead of heroes.
This is a story full of action, but the author also added love and affection to give you a breather in this fast paced and fluently written book.
London Lass –
A fun, zippy read, as Suzanne and Charlie Jones bring corrupt politicians and drug runners to book.
Welsh Annie –
Excellent story, authentic detail, beautifully paced and written.
If I was surprised how very much I enjoyed the second book in this series, I have to say that I think I might have enjoyed Corruption! even more. It might have helped that I had clear expectations, and that I’d already met (and really liked) Charlie and Suzanne – but I’m quite certain that this gripping read could very comfortably be read as a standalone.
It probably goes without saying that for a pharmaceutical thriller to work convincingly, it needs a feeling of authenticity – and Elizabeth Ducie draws on her vast experience to make the story content vividly real, and quite fascinatingly detailed, both about the manufacturing process and the loopholes viciously exploited by the criminal fraternity.
The whole story is quite superb – exciting, unpredictable, a real page-turner – but I particularly liked its characters. After its shocking scene-setting opener, the story’s initial focus is on Francine Matheson, ousted from her political role and facing an uncertain future touched with sadness, an excellent portrait of living with loss, self sufficient but seeking a new rudder for her life. Her encounter with Anton Dimitriov – a pharmaceutical manufacturer from St Petersburg – and his well-drawn family then begins to drive the story, an initial suspicion that all is not as it should be escalating into a full-scale investigation, with extreme danger for all involved. Both Suzanne and Charlie join the action, and I particularly liked the extra level of complication from the changes in their personal circumstances, with a few nice detours into the detail. The villains are suitably villainous, and it was interesting to encounter again some characters I was already familiar with – but that previous knowledge wasn’t in any way a pre-requisite.
And the story was quite excellent – beautifully paced, full of twists and turns, cranking up the tension in the lead up to a tremendously exciting, well-handled climax. And I really enjoyed the quality of the writing – great set pieces, insights into key characters’ thoughts and motivations, vivid descriptions, crisp dialogue that drives the story forward, and some absolutely fascinating detail about corruption within the pharmaceutical world. I thoroughly enjoyed this one – and I do secretly rather hope that we haven’t seen the last of Suzanne and Charlie.
Peter Pi –
Just finished the last book in this trilogy, now reaching for good old and reliable Mr Baldacci who has been on the shelf since I began this wonderful journey a couple of weeks ago. Wow, wow, wow what an amazing collection of stories and delighted that the third main character has finished these marvellous novels. Loved every page and felt I was being lead along the story path by an experienced and established best selling author! Huge congratulations Elizabeth, I am so pleased my friend Nicky recommended you to me. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!!
LizzyD –
A gripping finale to the Suzanne Jones trilogy.
or is it? I am hoping we will see a Jones/Ford sequel very soon??
Read all three books to get the best from this fascinating tale.
Eldatom –
A must read.
Having read Deception and Counterfeit, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into Corruption. I wasn’t disappointed. A great read. In fact I think Corruption was the best out of the three.
Caroline –
Another hit for Elizabeth Ducie.
We had all been waiting for the third book in the Suzanne Jones series, and we were not disappointed. With its well known international setting, this book is fast paced with an unexpected twist at the end.
Donna –
A fast addictive read.
Well written book… My favourite character is Charlie who comes to the forefront a lot more with her particular skill set. Would love for her to have her own series’s of books I reckon she has a very interesting history. Thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did with books 1 & 2.
colhammer –
An Exciting Finale to the Suzanne Jones Trilogy.
The third book in the Suzanne Jones series is a excellent follow up to the earlier books. The book is an another exciting episode moving on from the previous books but can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. Full of twists & turns to keep you guessing, with a real Eastern European atmosphere.
For someone who doesn’t read lots of crime fiction I find Elizabeth’s characters interesting & engaging and the plots refreshingly unpredictable. I have enjoyed seeing the characters and story lines develop over the series which covered the murkier side of commercial pharmaceuticals in Africa, South America and in this book Eastern Europe. Each book has a real sense of place & atmosphere ,well worth your time I read this in one session!
Laura D –
Fast paced thriller.
I was invited on the blog tour for Corruption! by Rachel’s Random Resources and was provided a kindle copy to read. I received this product for free in return for providing my honest and unbiased review. I received no other compensation. All opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own. I would like to thank her for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Corruption! is the third book in the Suzanne Jones series…and apparently the last. I haven’t read the previous two books and don’t feel my experience of reading Corruption! was diminished because of this. However on the merit of how much I enjoyed Corruption! If you are planning on reading the book I think you would probably enjoy the first two as well.
The Prologue in Corruption! sets the tone for the whole book and fundamentally outlines the issues at the core of the story. Between this and the story I’ll brag and say I thought I had the plot fully worked out pretty early on…boy oh boy was I wrong. This is a book with twists and turns a plenty and just when you think you know, you don’t!
In my opinion too many books are told from multiple points of view, many of them fall flat, and it can cause disconnect from the story. However in Corruption! it is not only necessary but it works. Having the multiple viewpoints allows the intricacies of the plot to develop and be shown to the reader.
As a newbie to this series one of the things I especially liked was the relationship diversity which is shown and is something that is often missing in so many books. I appreciated how the relationship between Charlie and her partner with Annie was treated in any other way than being “normal”. I am tired of reading stories that when LGBT relationships are included they are often done so in a way that highlights the authors misconceptions and lack of research. Not so with Corruption! and something that I feel should be strongly commended.
Overall this is a fast paced thriller which leaves you guessing and sees our protagonists questioning the innocence of old friends and new acquaintances. The level of the authors pharmaceutical knowledge is shown throughout and enriches the plot and detail within the book.
JeanG –
An exciting read from beginning to end – great finale to the Suzanne Jones series.
I came to this thriller with foreknowledge, having read both the previous Suzanne Jones books. I think I would have enjoyed it just as much as a stand-alone read – Elizabeth sets up the story so well. A new country but familiar protagonists; a new crime for Suzanne and Charlie to solve with the help of an interesting cast. Set in Russia and dealing with the pharmaceutical industry that Elizabeth knows so well, here was action and violence and the chance to learn about another side of Russian society and its problems. I also enjoyed the rounding out of the two main characters – marriage for Suzanne and impending parenthood for Charlie meant that decisions they made while solving drugs crime in Russia, and the danger they put themselves in, could have repercussions for those they had left in the UK, adding tension to an already exciting story.
CG –
A great read.
Another fab thriller from Elizabeth Ducie, I would highly recommend. It was great to be back with Suzanne and Charlie Jones (and if you haven’t read the first two, Counterfeit! and Deception!, it doesn’t matter, but they’re really good too), and this time in they’re investigating the trail of a new and deadly drug that’s apparently being manufactured in Russia.
With Suzanne away, it falls to Charlie to make the first trip to St Petersburg, much to the dismay of her pregnant partner. Once there, she is introduced to the family who own the factory that’s under suspicion. But they’re not villains, she’s sure of it, so who is?
Further investigation reveals old adversaries and welcome, if surprising, friends. I don’t want to give the plot away as there are so many clever twists and turns. Corruption is really well plotted and hums along. There’s lots of really interesting and vivid writing about Russia and the pharmaceutical industry that I found very illuminating.
A great story, with an edge of the seat dénouement, it would make a fantastic movie. I really enjoyed it.